Tray



Sepl. 11, 1928. Y 7 1,683,944

J. L. BALCH TRAY Filed March 23, 1927 Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwue'ntow J. LBale/0.

1 1 7 Gwen m1 Sept. '11, 19225. 1,683,944

J. L. BALCH TRAY Filed March 23, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 till having anarm 14 to which Patented fiept. 11, 1928.

Jenn L. BALcH, or ro'rnn'ron, IDAHO.

' TRAY.

' Application filed March 23, 1927. Serial No. 177,737. 3

The present invention is directed to im provements in trays.

The primary objectof the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter so constructed that it canbe quickly attached to a bed and iscapable of being adjusted to various positions in order that it will beconveniently located for use by the occupant of the bed. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kindhaving combined therewith a drawer in which articles, such as books,writing materials, or tobacco may be conveniently placed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, showing it in place upon abed.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 1. p Figure 6 is aside elevation, enlarged, of the upper clamping member.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a sectional view on l ne 8-8 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the post of a bed and upon whichmy improved tray is supported.

A pairof vertically spaced clamps 2 and 3 are provided for engagementwith the post, the former comprising a spring steel aw and a rigid jaw5, the 5 having a plurality of slots 6 formed therein for selective engagement with the locking lever 7 pi'votally carried by the jaw 4, inorder that the clamp may be used upon posts of various diameters. Thejaw 4 is fixed to a plate 9 which is hingedly connected, as at 10, tothe section 11 of the bearing 12, the companion section 13 thereof thejaw 5 is hingedly connected, as at 15. The fixed sections 11 and 12 areformed with apertured ears 16 and a clamping bolt 17 for holding them inproper relation in order to embrace the vertical arm 18 of the bracket19, said arm having a plurality of vertically spaced recesses 20 formedtherein and upon opposite sides thereof, the purpose of which will belater explained.

The lower clamp 3 also comprises a spring steel .21 to which ispivotally connected a lever 22 for selectively engagingthe slots 23formed in the jaw 24 which is hingedly con; nected, as at 25. to thelug26. The jaw 21' is also fixed to the lug 26 which forms an integral partof the collar 27. A brace bar 27' is provided and has its upper endfixed to the horizontal arm 28 of the bracket and its lower end fixed tothe arm 18 thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. I

In order to hold the arm 18 in vertically adjusted position asleeve 29isemployed and slidably engages said arm, said sleeve being placed uponthe arm before the bracebar 27 is applied. The sleeve is formed withdia-' V metrically opposed perforations 30 and selectively engaged insaid perforations are the extensions 31 0f the handles 32 which arepivot-ally connected to the web 33 of the sleeve .29 by a pin 34. A coilspring 35 is engaged between the outer ends of the handles 32 and servesto yieldably hold the extensions 31 in engagement with selected recesses20 of the arm 18. This sleeve rests upon the bearing 12 and wheninterlocked with the arm 18 will hold the same in adjusted positions.The arm 18 is permitted to freely rotate in the bearing 12 but is heldagainst downward movement by the sleeve 29, as will be obvious.

The tray 36 is of box-like formation, and thetop 37 thereof provides arest for various articles, whileslidable in the tray is a drawer 38.Fixed to the under side of the top 37 is a channel member 38 having aspring stop 39 carried thereby and located adjacent the rear.

end thereof. 7

To the arm 28 is pivotally connected, as at 40, the inner end of a bar41, said bar being slidably engaged in thechannel member 38. Spacedsockets 42 and 43 are formed in the lower surface of the bar'41, and asshown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the stop 39 is engaged with thesockets 42, thus preventing accidental sliding of the tray when it isslid outwardly upon the bar 41. It will be obviousthat when the tray ismoved outwardly upon the bar 41 that thestop 39 will engage the socket43, thus arresting and limiting the sliding movement of said tray. Thebar 41, being comparatively wide, will prevent tilting of the tray. 7

To attach the device to the post 1 of the bed, the clamps 2 and 3 areengaged therewith and the lower end of the arm 18 is placed in thecollar 27, whereupon the bearing 12 is engaged with arm. The sleeve 29,bein in piece, will hold the arm in the desired.

justed position'in order that'th-e tray 36'Will be positioned at thedesired elevation. Since the bracket 19 is rotatably mounted and the bar41 pivotally connected thereto, the tray can be conveniently movedto'various'po'sitions of adjustment to suit the comfort of the occupant ofthe bed.

While the device is primarilydesigned for."

attachment to a bed post it is not necessarily limited to such use sinceitcan be secured to any other "support Wh en desired.

Having thus described the invention,- 1'

claim:

1. A device of the class described, compris inga pairofclamps forattachment to a post,

and provided, respectively, With a bearing and 'collar, a traysupporting bracket including a vertical'arm ha'vingreccs'ses therein;said "arm being rotatably engao'ed in the bearing'and collar; a sleeveslidably adjustable on the'arm', and having a Web carried thereby,

handles pivotal'ly carried. by'the Web and hav ing projections adaptedto extend through the sleeve for engaging selective recesses; said'"sleeve being adapted to rest'upoh saidbearforations' formed th e'reinga'web carri'ed'by thesleeve, handles pivotally connected with theWeband having projections "carried'theref therein, a sleeve slidable' uponthe vertical arm and having dlametrlca llyopposedperfb anden'atged'inthe oerforationsitor selec tively engaging said "recessestointerlock the" sleeve with the vertical arm', said sleeve beingrotatable upon the bearing, a bar pivotallv connected with I thehori'zontal" arm off said, bracket, and a tray slid'a'bly mounted on said? 0bar.

In testimony WhereofI aflix' "signature;

JOHN "L: BALGH? r I -1

